With defenseman Ryan McDonagh (shoulder) and Kevin Klein (foot) both sidelined, the New York Rangers have recalled Dylan McIlrath and Conor Allen from the Hartford Wolf Pack.

McIlrath was the Rangers’ tenth overall selection at the 2010 NHL Draft. The 22-year-old has 21 penalty minutes in eight games this season with the Wolf Pack. The 6-foot-5, 215 pound Winnipeg native made his NHL debut last season appearing in two games with New York. He wasted no time getting acclimated to the NHL game dropping the gloves with heavy-weight Brian McGrattan in just his second career game.

Allen, 24, also made his NHL debut with the Rangers last season appearing in three games. The un-drafted defenseman has two goals and three assists this season with Hartford. The Chicago native had 31 points in 72 games last season – his first year pro.

In addition to McDonagh and and Klein, the Rangers are without defenseman Dan Boyle (broken hand) and John Moore (suspended).

Kristo, 23, was originally Montreal’s second-round pick at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, acquired by the Rangers in July in exchange for Christian Thomas.

According to New York director of player personnel Gordie Clark, Kristo had “a good chance to fill” the open roster spots left by injured forwards Carl Hagelin and Ryan Callahan.

McIlrath, 21, was the Rangers’ first-round pick (10th overall) at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. The towering defenseman (6-foot-5, 215 pounds) spend last year in Connecticut and felt he had “a legitimate shot” of making the NHL this season.

But that didn’t happen.

The Rangers have added depth on the blueline over the last year, acquiring John Moore in the Marian Gaborik trade and signing Justin Falk in free agency. New York has also decided to take a longer look at Conor Allen, an undrafted free agent out of UMass-Amherst that appears to have a real shot of making the opening-night roster.

When most people think of key members of the New York Rangers, names like Henrik Lundqvist, Rick Nash, Ryan Callahan, Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh come to mind.

But what about the likes of Chris Kreider, Dylan McIlrath, JT Miller and Brady Skjei?

Those four are New York’s first-round picks from 2009-12, and widely considered to be cornerstones of the club’s future. Kreider (23 games last year) and Miller (26) have made their marks at the NHL level — Kreider more so, thanks to his stellar 2011-12 playoff run — while McIlrath seems close to making his NHL debut, and Skjei isn’t far away.

Under former head coach John Tortorella, it was difficult for those youngsters to get into games (“there are just too many mistakes,” he lamented back in April.) Kreider was a non-factor in 2013 after his postseason breakthrough, and Miller was used sporadically.

Under Vigneault, that might not change.

The new Rangers boss isn’t known as someone that likes youngsters learning on the job. His time in Vancouver was marked by a preference for safe, responsible veterans over talented-but-inexperienced kids.

Cody Hodgson, Michael Grabner and Jordan Schroeder all had issues getting ice time, though those decisions were often made in part by the club’s depth.

In New York, the situation could be similar.

Since hiring Vigneault, the Rangers signed a pair of veteran presences at forward, Dominic Moore and Benoit Pouliot, and added defensive depth in Justin Falk, Danny Syvret and Aaron Johnson.

Considering the Rangers didn’t lose much from last year’s team — the most notable departures were Steve Eminger, Roman Hamrlik, Jeff Halpern and trade deadline pickup Ryane Clowe — it’ll be tough for New York’s kiddie corps to get in the mix.

Especially if they don’t adhere to Vigneault’s preferred style of play.

“I like my teams to play the right way, which is if you have room to make a play, make a play,” he said upon taking the Rangers job. “If you have space and time to carry the puck, carry the puck. If the other team has the gap on you or they’re playing you tight, then sometimes you have to make the high-percentage play and chip those pucks in.

“I really believe in playing the right way both offensively and defensively.”

Nathan MacKinnon and Aleksander Barkov — the first two picks at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft — are two of the 27 prospects that will be in Toronto for Tuesday’s NHLPA Rookie Showcase.

Here’s more, from the NHLPA:

Now in its fifth year, this unique event will once again provide Panini America and Upper Deck – the two official trading card partners of the NHLPA and the NHL – with an exclusive opportunity to photograph many of the game’s top young prospects/rookies in their official NHL team uniforms, in shots that will be used for upcoming trading card and memorabilia launches.

Of the group, eight have already made their NHL debuts. Six of them — Thomas, Grigorenko, Pearson, Jensen, Mrazek, and Wilson — had a limited impact last year; Gallagher earned a Calder Trophy nomination and Conacher finished third among all first-year scorers, with 29 points.